Education is a major focus of the Texas Legislature this year, from teacher pay and training to tuition support for private education and homeschooling.

Why it matters: Republican lawmakers' approach to education could harm public schools even as they look to direct more money toward classrooms.

The big picture: Over 5.5 million students were enrolled in Texas public schools in 2023-24.

State of politics: State lawmakers have filed hundreds of bills related to primary and secondary education this session.

• Gov. Greg Abbott has said passing a voucher program — public money for private school tuition — increasing teacher pay and expanding merit-based pay programs are among his priorities this session. He also wants to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in grades K-12.
• The Texas House's 2026-27 budget proposes $4.85 billion for "across-the-board" raises for teachers and $1 billion for a voucher program. Both chambers have proposed $400 million for school safety upgrades, per the Texas Tribune.
• The Senate passed a voucher bill and House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, said this week there are enough votes to pass vouchers in the House.

Zoom in: Senate Bill 2 would give families $10,000 to use toward private school tuition. Students with a disability would get $11,500 annually. Families homeschooling their children would get $2,000 per child per year.

• The program is estimated to cost Texas $1 billion in fiscal year 2027. By fiscal year 2030, the cost is estimated to surpass $4.5 billion.
• Critics say the program would deplete enrollment in public schools and divert money from those schools.
• Supporters argue parents shouldn't have to send their kids to their local public school if it's underperforming academically.

Zoom out: School districts are also calling on state lawmakers to increase per-student funding, which hasn't changed since 2019.

• School districts statewide have struggled to balance budgets amid rising costs, declining enrollment and stagnant state funding. Fort Worth ISD is considering closing up to 25 schools because of a $17 million deficit.

What's next: March 14 is the deadline for state lawmakers to file bills, with the exception of local and emergency bills.

Budget balancing act

President Trump's pledge to dismantle the Department of Education could cost red states like Texas more than blue states.

Why it matters: Public school funding mainly comes from local and state governments, but states that voted for Trump rely more on federal support to fill the gaps than those that backed former Vice President Harris.

State of play: Federal funding made up 18% of Texas' public school budget for the 2021-2022 school year, compared with 23% in Mississippi — the highest in the nation — and just 7% in New York, the lowest, per USA Facts.

The latest: House Republicans introduced a bill last month to terminate the Education Department on Dec. 31, 2026. It's unlikely to pass, if it even reaches a floor vote.

• In Texas, state Rep. Andy Hopper (R-Decatur) has filed a bill to abolish the Texas Education Agency, echoing the effort in Washington. If the bill passes, the State Board of Education would assume the TEA's powers.

Threat level: States would likely handle cuts to federal education funding in different ways. Those that have more low-income families and, in turn, receive higher shares of Title I funding would feel the impact most.

• Texas alone could lose approximately $2 billion in federal funding if Title I is eliminated, according to the Education Law Center.

Reality check: A president does not have the authority to create or dismantle a federal agency; only Congress does.

• The legislative branch has historically resisted such moves.

🌷Grab your best buds. Catch vibrant displays of over 500,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and cherry blossoms at Dallas Blooms. This year's festival includes evening hours, chef demos and art and fitness workshops.

• Saturday through April 13 at the Dallas Arboretum. Tickets start at $22.

⚽ Join the fandom. Dallas Trinity FC, our women's soccer team, plays Spokane Zephyr FC at home. Dallas fans will get a free magnet.

• 4pm Saturday at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Tickets start at $30.

🎶 Go for B-I-N-G-O. Test your music expertise at this weekly bingo party, which offers prizes, cocktails and food.

• 2-4pm Sunday at Punch Bowl Social in Dallas. Free entry.

🍗 KFC is moving its headquarters from Kentucky to Plano. About 100 in-person employees will move within six months, and 90 remote employees will move later. (Entrepreneur)

⚖️ An East Texas man who narrowly avoided execution last fall is again asking the courts to declare his innocence, referencing a similar Dallas County case. (DMN)

✈️ Hundreds of flights were canceled at DFW Airport yesterday amid the cold snap. (WFAA)

🦏 The Fossil Rim Wildlife Center announced the birth of a southern white rhino and said the public can see him in March. (NBC5)

Our Axios artists help bring Axios Dallas to life with locally inspired illustrations, including a version of Deep Ellum's neon sign, horses and barbecue and bluebonnets.

• Their illustrations often appear with our Burnt Ends roundups and other Axios stories.

Yes, but: You normally don't get to admire what our artist, Brendan Lynch, has sprinkled over our fellow Axios Local cities.

State of play: Our winter precipitation chances are over this week, and we want to give you a chance to see what's snowing in the rest of the country!

• Take our quiz to see how well you know our nation's skylines — and what each city is famous for.

Pro tip: No. 5 should be a no-brainer.